Internal deadline: October 3, 2011

National deadline: November 9, 2011

Eligibility requirements:

• senior

• international students may apply

Award summary and conditions: The mission of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Program is to offer college graduates of unusual promise a year of independent, purposeful exploration and travel outside of the United States in order to enhance their capacity for resourcefulness, imagination, openness, and leadership and to foster their humane and effective participation in the world community. The stipend for the fellowship year is $25,000. The Foundation will reimburse the equivalent of 12-months of payments on outstanding institutional and federally guaranteed (Perkins, Stafford) loans. The fellow is responsible for making the payments.

Application process: Electronic submission.

Application materials:

• proposal for a project that is creative, feasible and personally significant
• personal statement
• fellowship application form
• personal photo
• transcript
• letters of recommendation

Whitman internal application requirements: Please pick up an internal application packet from the Office of Fellowships and Grants, Reid 231 or 232, 9:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.

Faculty Representative: Keith Raether

Internal committee: Yes

Internal interview: Yes

Internal nomination required: Yes, Whitman may submit up to four nominees

National committee interview: Yes. Interview takes place at Whitman

Selection process: Following are questions prospective applicants are asked to consider before applying and reflect what the Watson Foundation looks for in prospective Fellows:

• Do I really want to do this for a year?
• Do I really want to be there for an entire year?
• Do I have the strength and the passion to complete this project?
• Do I like to be alone? Do I like self-reflection?
• How flexible am I? Am I willing to leave behind familiar structures and cultures?
• Will this allow me to delve into a culture other than my own?
• How is this going to be a challenge? Do I like challenges?
• Is this realistic for me?

Announcement date: March 2012

Contact information: http://www.watsonfellowship.org/site/index.html